GEN. MONOCHIRUS. THE SOLENETTE. 247 



taken in the trawl-nets throughout the year, per- 

 haps to the amount of a dozen or more daily, but as 

 they are too small to be an object of attention with 

 the fishermen, they are either thrown overboard or 

 left to decay at the bottom of their boats. They 

 are known to the fishermen by the name of Red 

 Soles, the colour of the back being light reddish- 

 brown, and as they never exceed the length of five 

 inches, there can be no doubt that they are mature 

 fish, and not a juvenile state of some other species. 

 Mr. Thompson has obtained specimens on the north 

 coast of Ireland. 



The peculiarity specified in the generic character, 

 the very small size of the upper pectoral, in con- 

 nexion with the colour, shape of the body, and ex- 

 tension of the dorsal and anal fins to the very base 

 of the tail, where they almost form a union with the 

 caudal, will prevent this fish being mistaken for 

 M. varieyatus^ to which it is most nearly related, 

 and readily separate it from all the other Pleuro- 

 nectidas. 



